“Do you think you’re in danger?”

She lifts her shoulder and lets it drop. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Why didn’t you go to the police?”

“That would go over well.” She says the words with far too much cynicism for a girl her age. “Probably get me put in a foster home or something awful like that.”

“Marie, I’ll do what I can to keep you safe. But you have to be honest with me and tell me everything.”

“Yeah, right.” She looks down at her hand where the hangnail has started to bleed. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you all this. You can’t do anything. You probably don’t even care.”

“I care,” I tell her. “And I’m a good listener.”

She drops the cigarette into her tea and it sizzles out. “So was Rachel, and look what happened to her.”

We sit in silence for a few minutes, wrapped in our thoughts. There’s no way I can let this girl walk away. Not if she’s in danger. If she leaves and something happens …

I’m trying to figure out how to handle the situation without blowing my cover when she speaks.

“There’s nothing you can do,” she says.

“I can help you.”

“No one can help. He runs things and he’s got everyone behind him.” She laughs. “Or scared of him.”

“Why did you come here tonight?”

Shrugging, she offers a penitent smile. “I guess I liked the way you stood up to those guys at worship. Like you were some badass and going to take them apart all by yourself. No one’s ever done anything like that for me before.”

“Let me look into all of this,” I tell her. “In the interim … will you do me a favor?”

“Oh, brother…”

“Let me walk you home.”

“You sure you want to be seen with me?” But her relief is palpable.

“It’s three thirty A.M. and twenty degrees outside. No one’s going to see us.” I say the words lightly, but her expression tells me she doesn’t believe the time or temperature is relevant. “Your parents find you gone and they’ll be worried. You shouldn’t do that to them.”

“They’re sleeping. I went out the window.” Rising, she starts toward the door. “I’ve done it before and they never even know.”

“Something happens to you and they’ll know.”

She nods. “Okay.”

I grab my scarf and step into my boots. “One more thing.”

She reaches the door and turns in time for me to see her roll her eyes.

“Lay low and let me handle this,” I say.

“You’re not going to involve the cops, are you?”

“Not yet. But if someone hurt Rachel, they’ll need to get involved at some point.” I hand her my gloves. “Might be the only way to stop Schrock.”